Might have an opportunity to travel to Dagestan for a couple weeks.

My son has been invited over and I am looking for anyone with some direct experience.

I know some basics. Am trying to read up as I can. Thought I'd reach out here.

Sounds fun!




"North Caucasus (including Chechnya and Mount Elbrus) – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Terrorist attacks and risk of civil unrest continue throughout the North Caucasus region including in Chechnya, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Stavropol, Karachayevo-Cherkessiya, and Kabardino-Balkariya. Local gangs have kidnapped U.S. citizens and other foreigners for ransom. There have been credible reports of arrest, torture, and extrajudicial killing of LGBTI persons in Chechnya allegedly conducted by Chechen regional authorities.

Do not attempt to climb Mount Elbrus, as travelers must pass close to volatile and insecure areas of the North Caucasus region.

The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens traveling in the North Caucasus region, including Mount Elbrus, as U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling to the region."

Dagestan – Travel guide at Wikivoyage
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Dagestan
WARNING: Travel to Dagestan is strongly discouraged, due to high criminal activity, frequent bombings, and general lawlessness and crime. Chechen terrorists often target Russians in Dagestan in bombings and other terrorist acts. Salafist extremists (largely foreign) have engaged in violent conflict against native, moderate Sufi groups, in pursuit of the establishment of Sharia law.

says it all!

Watch “the naked prey” and “apocalypto” before you go.

That's OK, I think Tarkio likes pussy so he's safe...........

Wouldn't go to ANY 'stan' except for have too work, never for pleasure.

No desire to go there!

Anyone who invites you there is not your friend.

No. but close. Whatever the offer, it isn't worth it.

Been to some of the Stans in the 1990s for work. Somewhat safe then. Would not go these days, PERIOD.

There is a guy on the internet who travels all around the planet. Spends a lot of time in the former Soviet republic areas and what not.



He kind of makes a living challenging preconceived notions of places. Places supposed to be terrible.


He went to Dagestan. Found the locals to be friendly and hospitable. The YouTube channel is called Bald and Bankrupt.


Personally, I would give it a pass, but I worry too much!


Wasn't Ed in the 'stans recently?

I used to have a friend that ran ops for a friendly regime. She used to say things like "I've been invited to look at some farm property in New York." That was her code for "I'm flying out of JFK next week-- final destination is classified." Within a week or two there'd be a story on the front page of the NYT. You had to read between the lines, but you knew it was her and her group that were responsible. A week or so later she'd come back with her arm in a cast or worse. While I knew her, she caught a round of 9mm in the left tit. She did a few more of these jobs and then hung it up. Some people go looking for trouble.

I also had another buddy who thought it would be a great idea to attend a business meeting in Cairo just before the Arab Spring broke out. He got home with just a broken arm and a lung-fuc% from inhaling tear gas. Our military had to rescue him-- flew him out to Ramstein if I remember. He called me from Texas to tell me he was transferring to a civillian carrier for the last leg and wanted me to get him home from CVG. Sometimes it is being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I also had a friend that used to travel the globe as a free-lance journalist. He accidentally ran afoul of some folks in Ireland that mistook him for IRA-- he was wearing a Candian field jacket and a black beret (the uniform of a highly violent faction at the time). The only thing that saved him in Mexico was that he raised an eyebrow at a local warlord; the locals decided he must have the Evil Eye and wouldn't touch him. However, he did get a visit from a crooked cop that wanted to know his meaning. He once got picked up on the Mall in DC for "impersonating a Secret Service Agent." The offense was caused by wearing a yellow map pin in his lapel. That was the sign that day. It was also the universal sign of American Mensa. He was on his way to a meeting. They had to call Mensa HQ in NYC to confirm it before they'd let him loose. Sometimes it's the little things that get you.

. . . and this does not even touch on the my buddy who ended up at Gitmo during the Cuban Missle Crisis. We'll save that one for later.

A trip to Dagestan? That sounds like a great invitation to make the front page of the NYT. With all those warnings, they're probably running low on Western hostages. Have fun.

Sounds like no place for Americans.

I'd love to see the Caucasus someday. If you end up going Tarkio post up some pics and a write up please!

Yep, mid 80's to mid 2000's here, crapholes!

What it said was the Salafists were attacking the Sufis in order to establish Sharia Law.

They're all the same..................right?

Geno

I wonder if the food in Dagastan is as good as Armenian?

I love Armenian food.

Geno

Salafists are Islamic fundamentalists and are pretty different from Sufis who are seen by Salafists as a corruption of Islam. Sufis are not on the Sharia Law bandwagon.

Begs the question, who invited your son and why??

L.W.

You saw the little winky things?

The poem in my signature is Sufi.

Geno

Handcuff your son to his bed the evening before scheduled departure. Apologize for losing the key and tell him you will make up for the plane ticket cost.

Everybody wins except the Dagers.

Is there a clear reason for invitation ?

Chechen tried very hard to establish the first Islamic republic there :

Wrestling maybe? Its like their national sport there. I know years ago Dagestan invited foreign amateur wrestlers there to train. Former UFC Heavyweight Justin Wren talks about he was slapped by an adult male for whistling while there training in college. I guess whistling is considered very rude and a sign your an idiot there.

If you go too who will plan and run the operation to get your son out? And who will borrow the immense pile of Yankee greenbacks to pay for it?

I love the Bald & Bankrupt guy.

The hospitality of the people in the former soviet union is unbelievable.

I've traveled some over the years. Been to places that many would be uncomfortable with. One thing I have learned is there is a difference between showing up as a tourist, and being invited by a person or group that is hosting you.

This trip is for a group of young wrestlers. For those that don't know, Dagestan is the center of the universe for top-tier wrestling. If you've ever heard of Khabib, he is from Dagestan. Sadulaev, is the top, pound-for-pound wrestler in the world. From Dagestan. The wrestling culture is phenomenal and these boys have been invited to go and train with a few clubs in the region. Starting in Petersburg and then traveling south into Dagestan. I understand this isn't the simplest, safest opportunity like traveling to Edmonton. This is a once-in-a-lifetime training opportunity and life-altering experience. Trying to figure out what the reality is on the ground.

I note that not many people have chimed in with personal experience, and that is what I am looking for.

It has "stan" in its name. Need I say more? I refuse to go anyplace where bacon is illegal.

The US State Dept has issued a level 4 travel warning which states DO NOT TRAVEL TO DAGESTAN. Is that not enough information? Don’t be a fool and risk your son’s life.

I lived/worked in Kazakhstan for three years both off and on shore and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and it was a challenge. On shore I was in Atyrau and it was not uncommon for expats to be rolled walking drunk on the streets then thrown in jail for being drunk in public. An early outing with other expats bar hopping had young Russian girls flat-azz grabbing ones crotch, mine included. So from there forward I learned to head from my apartment in Europe to my office via bridge or, in winter, right across the Ural River to Europe to buy ground meat of origin lost and taught a small shop nearby (they all sold vodka some apparently could make one ill) what Bombay Gin, via photos he had, point and shoot so of speak. A great but difficult time...

Maybe check with SCI?

The lady who published the Hunting Report works there and she is up to date with traveling to many places. Hunters go to Dagestan every year to hunt tur. Perhaps she has some info?

Good idea.

Thanks

Okay.

As I said before, I have traveled in areas that are sketchy at best.

I enjoy seeing those parts of the world many would never.

Throw my kid into the mix and obviously the calculus changes.

Really one of my biggest concerns would be flying regional airlines. I am looking into how they will be traveling from St Petersburg to Dagestan and that will play into our decision.

I may be able to go as a chaperone. That I don't know about yet. If I can't go, then the decision making would be more heavily influenced by other specifics such as itinerary, mode of travel, etc.

This!

And Ed stated what, to me, is absolutely obvious.

When traveling these type of ares, do not get drunk or do anything to affect your ability to take care of yourself, if that makes sense.

Don't go messing around with the local flavors. Leave the women alone. Avoid gambling, drugs, drinking, etc. etc. etc.

Be polite. Be good guests. Be aware.

In South Africa I've hired meet and greet services, rifle permit services and drivers/tour guides from Air 2000. They're worth their weight in gold. They keep me safe by keeping from going where I shouldn't. I started to argue with a ticket agent about the legalities of shipping my ammo back home. I knew I was right, but the Air 2000 agent advised me to let it go. Everything worked out and his advice was great. I was a guest in foreign third world country.

Don't rock the boat, you don't want to be detained, their laws ain't our laws.

I just remembered her name, Barbara Crown.

Don't be going places you don't belong.

nuke that farking place.....

I am pretty hard core black and white.

But, I know there are a lot of decent people in these areas. Try looking up the guy Jim talked about earlier. Google bald & bankrupt youtube videos. The people he meets in the former soviet republics is pretty amazing.

Ex girlfriend was Armenian. Her family ended up here as her dad was a high level politician in Azerbaijan early 1990’s. Chechens wanted him dead as he was giving intel to a different coalition/faction. so they fled in the middle of the night suddenly. They only took clothes on there back. Her father has since gone back many times to Armenia/Azerbaijan. We thought about going to the region and traveling to multiple countries there while dating 7 years ago. He asked if I wanted to see 30 years old.

I answered yes obviously. His response was then stay out of Chechnya or Dagestan. He was not playing either

Been 7 years. Maybe it’s changed.

Sounds like a great place for snowflakes to go backpacking.

The only way I would go is if I could take a couple of friends with me: 1st Cavalry Division and the 101st Airborne.

Looks like it’s a go for both of us.

Thanks BGGruff. Will try.

I used to visit Dagestan in the 90's and the caucuses are beautiful country. Have a few friends from Dagestan. One ended up in prison. Big surprise

Id be leery going there on my own these days unless you have trustworthy local contacts. That area is known for kidnapping tourists.

Will try.

Believe we will be mostly on the coast and not up in the mountains which is good and bad.

Lot more stable and safe on the sea. Not as cool country to see though compared to being in the mountains.

Group was invited by a couple clubs in Dagestan. Will he hosted by them.

I believe we are picking up an interpreter in Moscow in the way in.

I'm sure they'd be happy to take a little time out to carve up an American or two.

I seem to remember a college kid who visited North Korea. You country my not be quite as bad but it’s close. Hasbeen

You should be okay but play it safe and post a Gun Free Zone sign on your car and rooms.

Safe travels and I hope that you’ll be able to do a write up on your experience.

Is this a church sponsored or type trip? Despite your reason for going there I really hope you and your son have a good time but most importantly I hope you guys come home in 1 piece. 👍👍

There's a lot of very nice sea coast in TX, FL, SC,NC,..... In most of these places, the bathing beauties aren't wearing burkas in the water.

Sports.

Maybe Georgia.

Have fun and safe travels.

WOW! That’s commitment to the sport.

I’m sure it’ll be a memorable trip and you guys will be able to say that you’ve been to a corner of the world that very few have.

Tarkio, your son must be quite the wrestler to get that invite. A wrestler from my high school was invited on a similar trip back in the late 90s. He ended his wrestling career at Oklahoma State...

Good luck and safe travels! Looking forward to hear about the trip.

The Caucuses have. a long history and great passion for the sport of wrestling and it is the national sport of Dagestan. When I went there somehow it came up I wrestled and my Dad was a wrestling coach. They really lit up and treated me like gold. And the mafias in Russia and Georgia Dagestan employ ex wrestlers as body guards, enforcement . Bet he is treated very well there.